Concordia animation professor Shira Avni’s experimental animated film, Two One Two, has won 17 international awards to date
Shira Avni at the Sommets du cinéma d'animation awards ceremony.
Between 2023 and 2024, Shira Avni, associate professor of animation and cinema at Concordia, earned 17 awards and 10 nominations for her experimental animated documentary, Two One Two.
Combining experimental clay-on-glass animation with personal archival footage, the internationally celebrated film delves into themes of motherhood, neurodiversity, and the complex dualities of parenting through an intimate and experimental lens. Described as a “love letter to motherhood, parenting on the spectrum, and two-headed monsters everywhere,” the film highlights the Concordia prof’s unique and deeply personal approach to animation.
Global recognition
Since its premiere at the Montreal Sommets du cinéma d’animation in May 2023, where it received the Special Jury Prize, Two One Two has screened at over 125 film festivals worldwide.
Among its numerous accolades are Best Animated Short Film at the Berlin Short Film Festival, Best Experimental Documentary at the Oregon Documentary Film Festival and the Nonviolence Award at the Ann Arbor Film Festival.
Additional honours include:
- Best Animated Film, Moinho Cine Fest, Portugal
- Best Documentary Microshort, Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation and Technology, United States
- Best Animated Short Film, Cinefem - Festival Internacional de Cine de la Mujer, Uruguay
- Best Voice Acting, Swan Perth International Women in Film Festival, Australia
- Best Animation, Women Over 50 Film Festival, United Kingdom
The film’s blend of meticulously handcrafted animation techniques includes clay-on-glass, rotoscoping, and object animation. It has been praised for its innovative artistry and emotional depth.
Two One Two Film Poster
Director’s perspective
Avni’s directorial statement reveals the personal origins of Two One Two. Initially conceived as an exploration of perinatal trauma following the premature birth of her son, the project evolved into a reflection on the symbiotic and sometimes fragmented nature of parenthood.
“I see parenting very much as a feminist issue,” Avni shares in her director’s statement. “While the final film is joyful, upon close viewing, the Two One Two monster is heavily scarred.”
She describes the film as a tactile and sensory journey that captures the experience of navigating the world as a “two-headed monster,” a metaphor for the interconnected lives of mother and child.
A legacy of excellence
A recipient of Concordia’s 2020 Distinguished Teaching Award, Avni is known for her innovative courses, such as Under-Camera Animation (FMAN300) and Animated Documentary (Special Topics FMAN 398 or 498).
Avni’s previous animated documentaries — John and Michael, Tying Your Own Shoes, and Petra’s Poem — have collectively earned over 30 international awards and screened at more than 120 festivals.
Her latest work builds on this celebrated career as a filmmaker and educator.
“Two One Two is by far my most personal film, and in some ways, the riskiest,” Avni says.
“Initial reactions to the proposal included the idea that audiences would never be interested in stories about motherhood. I’m deeply grateful to those who believed in this project and hope it can encourage more women and others whose stories are unheard to make films about their own experiences.”
Local and international screenings of Two by Two are planned for 2025—stay tuned for updates on upcoming festival dates and locations.
For more information about Two One Two, Shira Avni and her work, visit the film's webpage.
Learn more about Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and the Film Animation program.